nd fairness I feel justified in making to you a complaint
which I am sure you will agree with me is well-founded. At a little
place called Bristoe Station I recently obtained a fine, blue uniform,
the tint of which wind and rain will soon turn to our own excellent
Confederate gray. I found your own name as maker stamped upon the neck
band of both coat and vest.

"I ought to say however that after I had worn the coat only twice the
seams ripped across both shoulders, I admit that the fit was a little
tight, but work well done would not yield so quickly. I also picked
out a pair of beautiful shoes, bearing your name stamped upon them. The
leather cracked after the first day's use, and good leather will never
crack so soon.

"Now, my dear Mr. Watson, I feel that you have treated me unfairly. I
will not use any harsher word. We do not expect you to supply us with
goods of this quality, and we certainly look for something better from
you next time.

"Your obedient servant,
ARTHUR ST. CLAIR,
Lieutenant 'The Invincibles,'
C. S. A."

"Now, did you ever hear of another piece of impudence like that?" said
Watson. "It has its humorous side, I admit, and you're justified in
laughing, but it's impudence all the same."

"Yes, it is impudence, and do you know, Mr. Watson, I've met the writer
of that letter. He is a South Carolinian, and from his standpoint he
has a real grievance. I never knew anybody else as particular about his
clothes, and it seems that the uniform and shoes you furnished him are
not all right. He's a gentleman and he wouldn't lie. I met him at
Cedar Run, when the burying parties were going over the field. He was
introduced to me by my cousin, Harry Kenton, who is on the other side.
Harry wouldn't associate with any fellow who isn't all right."

"All the same, if I ever catch that young jackanapes of a St.
Clair--it's an easy name to remember--I'll strip my uniform off him and
turn him loose for his own comrades to laugh at."

"But we won't catch either him or his comrades for a long time."

"That's so, but in the end we'll catch 'em. Now, Mr. Mason, you don't
agree with me about many things, but you're only a boy and you'll know
better later on. Anyway, I like you, and if you need help at any time
and can reach me, come."

"I'll do so, and I thank you now," said Dick, who saw that the
c